Week #4: The Generational Digital Divide

This week our class had a discussion centered around the generational gaps with technology and the digital age. What really stood out to me was the fact that it seemed like bit of a contentious relationship between generations. Personally, I like to think that technology is something that bridges that gap between generations and gives us the tools we need to relate to each other.

This week we were asked to reflect on a number of different questions in our blogs.

Do schools really need to change? If so, in what ways?

I think that this is a question that has a yes and no answer. I think that the education that my sons are getting is great, they have teachers that are engaging them in conversations, having them think critically and using aspects of technology in their learning environments. There are great educators out there that are still making an impact on student learning. I do think, however, that as educators we need to evolve. when I say this I mean we need to do what we want our students to do, get out of our comfort zones and integrate more technology and digital leaning styles. we have a limited amount of tech tools in our school, but we do have laptops that can access a number of educational programs. We have programs that we can be utilizing to manage our work loads, programs such as Google Suits, in which students can write, create presentations, work with different programs that it has to offer. Google Classroom for instance is an interesting way to collect student work in one space as well as creating and assigning work for students, in a forum that is more manageable to students than their lockers and binders. Utilizing these assistive technologies could help with productivity and help alleviate the workload on teachers and students. Our world is changing and we need to equip our students with the tools they will need in the future through their ed experience. Christiaan Henny makes a great point right at the end of his article stating, “Though the future of education seems remote, the teacher and educational institution are vital to academic performance.”

What sort of world are we preparing students for?

The world that our students are going to be working in is going to be enhanced with technological tools that they will need to embrace for their success. In Future Work Skills 2020, in a section entitled, New Media Ecology, it is said that, “New media is placing new demands on attention and cognition. It is enabling new platforms for creating online identity while at the same time requiring people to engage in activities such as online personal reputation and identity management. It is enabling new ways for groups to come together and collaborate, bringing in new levels of transparency to our work and personal lives.” Our world is constantly becoming more and more technology driven and we need to be able to equip our students with the skills they will need to navigate that world in a healthy manner.

What sort of education or education system will be needed to adequately prepare students for the world ahead?

This is an important question that we need to consider as educators. Classes and programs that are offered in post-secondary institutes are in online formats. Students will need to be properly equipped to problem solve and work in these highly independent formats. So not only will they have a need to be able to work on their own and utilize programs to do so, but they will need to have an idea as to how to interact with and navigate ed tech tools so they do not feel so overwhelmed with a) a new class and b) new technologies.

In Whats the future of education? Teachers respond the following quote really stuck out,

“Is teaching a dying profession? If not, then the classroom will change a lot. I don’t think schools will exist in the same format, with desks and chairs. Instead, learning will incorporate virtual reality and multiple perspectives. Students will learn how to negotiate issues and exchange ideas.” —Sharon Hadar, educator in Raanana, Israel

Is it possible to change our educational system, or is it more likely that the system will be replaced by other forms of education?

This is a tricky question! I do think that it is possible to change the educational system in many ways, but I do think that there will be different options through its evolution. I do think that there will be a blended aspect to the education system down the road. In an article by Bernard Marr he points out,

“Online learning makes education available to those even in remote areas as well as make it easy to share curriculum across borders. EdTech solutions can overcome many common barriers to a quality education.”

Educators roles will change to that of a facilitator of learning, which might be a bit of a step back from what they are used to. If this happens there is a major downside, which is creating relationships with students. In a society where we are already behind screens for a good chunk of time, we would be widening that gap and possibly stunting student ability  to socialize in meaningful ways.

 What does citizenship look like in this future reality?

This is a great question, especially with the previously mentioned generational divides that exist within the realm of technology. Citizens will have a greater understanding of different programs. There will be a number of different transferable skills based on what education has offered is students. Opportunities for future students to learn with and through improved technologies will be fantastic but I do worry about the possibility of the social aspect of education suffering, which is huge as we have to co exist with other humans. What happens when it’s not practiced? what will be the effects of an unsocial society? Sure people will be tech savvy and able…but human interaction is huge! This would be one fear I have for my kids….

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